Politics & Government

Laurel Election Roundup: Incumbents Clinch Victories

Laurel's Board of Election confirms incumbents to remain in office.

This story was updated at 3:00 p.m.

Prompted by a larger than expected showing during the Tuesday city election, former at-large candidate Adrian Rousseau told Laurel Patch that he stepping down as a board member at the Laurel Boys and Girls Club to form a advocacy group in the city.

Rousseau, a first time candidate, ran against Council President Mike Leszcz in Tuesday's election, eventually loosing the race. He used his position at the club as a platform during his candidacy affirming that he was a youth advocate.

Find out what's happening in Laurelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But in an interview with Laurel Patch today, Rousseau said he would be stepping down from the club to take on broader issues in the community. After receiving more than 700 votes, the third most of any candidate, he said he feels like he has a platform to do greater things.

"There are so many more issues people want me to be a part of---I can't wait for the city," he said.

Find out what's happening in Laurelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Rousseau said he will continue to follow issues in the city and hasn't ruled out seeking office in the future. For now, he said he plans on holding the re-elected incumbents to their campaign promises on investing in the city's youth, redevelopment of Laurel Mall, and economic growth in the city.

Previous story

Incumbents in all election races in Laurel Tuesday routed their challengers in balloting that brought out the highest number of voters in a decade.

Voting results were finalized today by the city’s Board of Election Supervisors confirming that Mayor Craig Moe and Council President prevailed in the city’s two contested elections.

In other elections, Ward 1 Councilwoman Valerie Nicholas will remain in her seat after being appointed in the summer. Hayes Edward Ricks won the seat to be vacated by Ward 1 Councilwoman Janis L. Robison. In Ward 2, council members Fred Smalls and Donna L. Crary won their elections.

Tuesday’s election marked an end to one of the city’s most aggressive election seasons in years. Candidates spent the last two months knocking on doors, sending out mailers and staking campaign signs all over the city.

Voters overwhelming said they were concerned about business growth in the city, including progress on the redevelopment of Laurel Mall. Challengers said they could deliver sweeping change.

But in the end, voters stuck with whom they knew best--the incumbents.  More than 1,900 votes were cast, the highest voter turnout in 10 years.

“I feel good. It was a diverse voting process,” said Leszcz during a celebration party with Moe. “This is the most voters we've had in a while.”

Moe and Leszcz said they spent the last few days before the election knocking on doors, speaking to as many as 1,300 voters.

And while incumbents celebrated their hard work, challengers said they were left scratching their heads as to why their work didn’t pay off.

Mayoral Candidate Valerie Cunningham ran for the District 1 Prince George’s County Council seat last year, losing to council member Mary Lehman. She said she has brought 1,000 voters to the polls in the city’s Ward 2 and assumed she could do it again.

“I’m surprised,” she told Laurel Patch after bringing in more than 450 votes. “I had done the work and believed it would pay off but the people have spoken.”

Mayoral candidate Mike Sarich could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Be sure to catch up with all of Patch’s election coverage, from the live broadcast of to our exclusive with Mayor Craig Moe.


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